The first time I had attended the One of a Kind Show here in Toronto, my daughter was still a baby. I remember my husband and I taking turns pushing an empty stroller and carrying a fussy one-year-old through bustling aisles, barely able to fully appreciate the unique wares and merchandise up for grabs. So when my bestie called me up suggesting we take advantage of the late night shopping hours this past Thursday, sans enfants, I could hardly say no. And we lucked out with free parking!

This was one of the funnest shopping experiences I have had in a long time. It was the perfect opportunity to hang with my girlfriend, who drove in from out of town, all the while admiring and supporting the work of local and North American artisans. It was an added bonus that within the first five minutes I came across an unexpected vendor Cuillères Héritage Spoons. After attending the OMLTA Conference earlier this month, I knew I wanted to buy a pair of wooden spoons that I could use to introduce my students to French Canadian traditional music. When I heard the unmistakable clickity clack soon after I arrived at the One of a Kind Show, I ran right over to the booth that housed a variety of beautifully crafted wooden spoons designed by the one and only Richard Cyr. And yes, I bought myself la belle boîte à boîte, a newer design which offers more variations in sound than the traditional giboulée. I was also given a mini refresher course on how to play. Cause, yeah... I can play a mean spoon diddy.

Here are some invitations I made for a co-worker this week. I wish I had more time to share my handmade greeting cards over on my craft blog Diana's Designs but I just can't seem to find the time. I'm definitely looking forward to the summer break!

On Saturday, April 13, Oprah Winfrey will be in Hamilton to bring you "An Evening with Oprah" as part of her cross-Canada tour. Renowned as one of the most influential people in the world, Oprah will be sharing insights and stories from her life, including her triumphs, fall-backs, learning experiences, and some lessons from her favourite heroes on how to find happiness and reach your full potential. So you can imagine my elation upon discovering an email from the president of Sleep Country Canada, the title sponsor of the event, inviting me to join her as a VIP guest. Not only will I be able to enjoy front row seating, I have the great fortune of meeting Oprah Winfrey and Christine Magee backstage!

Of course, I won't be the only lucky one. Sleep Country Canada is currently running a contest with an amazing grand prize. The Grand Prize package includes two VIP back stage passes to meet Oprah Winfrey and Christine Magee, two front row tickets to "An Evening with Oprah" at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, on April 13, 2013, including airfare and accommodations for two PLUS a Tempur-Pedic® Cloud Supreme Breeze queen mattress set! Further prizes include additional VIP packages, tickets to the show and $200 towards your next mattress purchase at Sleep Country Canada. Visit the Sleep Country An Evening With Oprah contest site for more details and to enter for your chance to win.

If you had a chance to meet Oprah and ask her one question, what would it be?

On Friday, I attended the OMLTA Conference held right here in Toronto. While I was a little disappointed about the new setup and the apparent decrease in the number of exhibitors, I was lucky enough to attend a number of very interesting and informative workshops. One such workshop was called, "I know about the CEFR - now give me some strategies!!" This session was presented by Susanna Gojsic, Alfreda Le Donne and Carole Knezevic from my hometown of Hamilton. During the session, I learned some interesting strategies that I am excited to implement, one of which involves the use of videos.

As a French teacher, I cringe each time a student prepares a written assignment in English and then plops it into Google Translate. They never seem to realize that the end result could be a completely erroneous interpretation. After watching the video below during the workshop, I think it would be great to show it to my students in the hopes that they will question whether or not Google Translate is a good idea. Kick up your feet and watch this Fresh Prince inspired video created by cdza:

This is the testimony of Toronto Teacher Mom, her continuing mission to explore strange new storage solutions, to seek out new space and new organization, to boldly go where no husband has gone before.

Apparently today is the first day of spring. With the arrival of the season is the inevitable need for me to get into spring cleaning mode by packing away the bulky blankets and comforters, and trying to find somewhere to store them all for the next several months. Luckily, I was sent the new Ziploc Space Bags collection to help de-clutter our home and take better advantage of the little storage space we have.

First, I tried the Ziploc Hanging Suit Bag. I decided to store a number of my husbands shirts and sweaters that he hasn't worn in years. Many of them were hanging on a thick wooden hanger so I transferred them to wire or plastic hangers to save some space. I maxed it out at ten of my husband's tops, as per the directions, but I probably could have fit a few more.

After making a booklet for my grade 1 French students called, "On est malade." I decided to make another one for this month's theme on travel and methods of transportation. I based this booklet on the song that is taught in this month's unit called, "Si tu pars en voyage" which the kids just love to sing. The students can illustrate a couple of pages to personalize it and after the unit is over, they can take it home and teach their parents how to sing the song.

This week, the Ontario Modern Languages Teachers' Association/Association ontarienne des professeurs de langues vivantes is hosting another spring conference entitled "Connections 2013 Connexions" from March 21-23. This is the one conference I look forward to the most each year and I love that it is held right here in Toronto. Also, I am quite lucky that I am one of few Core French teachers in the board who have been offered subsidized participation through Ministry FSL funding. The OMLTA Conference offers amazing professional development for language teachers and I always learn something new every time I attend. This will be my sixth time attending since I moved to Toronto about nine years ago! Not only is a great opportunity to develop teaching strategies, listen to amazing keynote speakers, and check out the exhibitors and displays for the latest products and resources, but it is also a chance for me to connect with some of my teaching counterparts from my hometown of Hamilton as well as meet new friends from all over Ontario. So if you're planning on attending, let's 'connect!' I would love to meet you!

If you are a French or Modern Languages teacher in Ontario, I recommend becoming a member, especially if you are interested in attending the conference. The difference in member and non-member conference fees more than covers the cost of the annual membership fee plus you will receive Communication, the OMLTA newsletter published three times a year. It contains practical tips for the classroom as well as up-to-date information on language issues.

Additionally, the OMLTA, supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Government of Ontario, is running Projet à Québec again this year. The Projet à Québec program provides professional development opportunities for 40 Core FSL Teachers from Catholic and Public English-language district school boards across Ontario and is taking place in Quebec City from July 15-26, 2013. The session costs, excursions, room and certain meals are covered. Participants will only have to pay for return travel costs and some meals. The deadline

The deadline to submit an application is Friday April 12th at 5:00 pm. Visit OMLTA.org for more information.

If I had my druthers, I would file a lawsuit against Wiarton Willie for giving us false hope of an early spring. But instead, I will simply demand an early summer. Sounds fair, right?

This week, while off for the March Break, I refused to let the snowfall dampen my spirits. Instead, I gave myself my first pedicure of the year (you're welcome!) and pulled out my new sandals courtesy of Orthaheel. I decided to pour myself a fresh glass of lemon water, throw on my slingbacks and kick back for some much deserved down time. The thing is, as a French teacher that travels from class to class... to class..., I am always on my feet. I often wear running shoes or flats that provide enough support for the demands of my job. But sometimes I want to wear something more stylish.

Julie Slingback Sandal - $79.95

While flipping through the Orthaheel 2013 Spring/Summer Look Book, I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to try the Julie Slingback Sandal in coral. The floral t-strap is oh, so adorable and the gold accents were perfect. Stylish? You bet! And they are easy to put on and adjust for the right fit. I've been wearing them around the house all day long and love that they are so comfortable and lightweight. Did I mention they're adorable?

Orthaheel has a very nice selection of sandals designed for both comfort and style as well as various colours to choose from. This summer, I am leaning towards the colour coral. It simply reminds me of long walks on the beach at sunsetand searching for seashells along the seashore. I think my next pair would have to be the Fleur Toe Post Sandal, which is also new for 2013.

In our school board, we begin Core French studies in Grade 1. The program we use is called Dimoitou, which I had never heard of prior to moving to Toronto. There are so many things I like about the program, namely the variety of songs and poems that are based on the characters and themes of the month. For February, the themes focus on Valentine's Day but also illnesses. Thus, it introduces the students to expressions with avoir to indicate pain, such as "J'ai mal à la tête." (I have a headache.)

Using images from one of the worksheets, I decided to create a blackline master for a little booklet entitled, "On est malade." Not only do the students enjoy colouring in their favourite characters but they take pride in being able to read most of the words. They can easily read the characters' names since they spend a month becoming familiar with each character, and the sentences are fairly repetitive with the most challenging words being the parts of the body which are different on each page (dos, nez, oreille, tête, yeux, bouche).

The students are already familiar with most of the words since we have spent a number of classes learning the French version of Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Tête, épaules, genoux et pieds,

Genoux et pieds,

Genoux et pieds,

Tête, épaules, genoux et pieds,

Yeux, oreilles, bouche et nez.

Other songs I use to help teach the parts of the body in French include "Bonjour Monsieur" by Matt Maxwell. You can hear the song and follow along with the lyrics in this YouTube video by Sylvia Duckworth - Bonjour Monsieur, Matt Maxwell.One of my all-time favourite songs on this theme is "Dansez, Dansez" by an other popular Canadian children's artist Étienne. If you haven't heard about Étienne, you should. Even Justin Bieber knows his songs!

Carat All Natural Leather Care has recently become available in Canada. The 100% natural balm is of German design and contains bees wax, jojoba oil, vaseline and lanoline. It is available in three sizes: 37 ml, 60 ml and 170 ml. The two smaller sizes come with one sponge whereas the largest size comes with two sponges.

I first tested out the Carat Leather Balm on my old Finn Comfort shoes (also made in Germany). I've had these shoes for several years now and have taken quite a beating. In fact, the tread is pretty much warn out, I've worn them that much. As you can see in the photo above, the leather balm has managed to breathe new life into the leather, particularly in the toe area which often takes the brunt of wear and tear. I was happy with the result so I decided to put Carat to a much more challenging and large-scale task: the leather upholstery in my 2012 Jeep Wrangler.

The March Break started off with some rain showers here in Toronto. The good news is that most of the snow mountains have shrunk into snow hills. The not-so-good news is that the kids have had to remain indoors. Luckily, we were able to check out Wizard World, Toronto's largest indoor family fun park, during an exclusive event with Jennifer Valentyne who was filming her Live Eye segment for Breakfast Television.

Wizard World Fun Park is located in the Better Living Centre and parking is available on the Exhibition grounds. Take note that if you plan on being though for more than a few hours, the maximum cost for metered parking is $14. You will have to walk around to the main entrance which is hard to miss since they have a mini ferris wheel just outside.

Once inside, you will be greeted by ever-powerful wizard fountain. Just beyond is a Pizza Pizza booth. To your right, there are tented areas with craft tables and to your left, there is a coat check which is very useful, as well as the table where you pick up your unlimited ride bracelets.

Also to your left, you find a few of the games that kids can play and will be guaranteed a win. They get 3 chances for $5, which will grant them dollar store type inflatable toys. You can get 7 chances for $10, which will give them a small stuffed toy. The next level up is $20 which will let you pick a larger stuffed toy. I tried to avoid these like the plague.

Continue past the games booth and you will make your way to a bouncy castle extravaganza. I really like that they had a separate area for the wee ones in an area that fully enclosed and separate from the bigger kids' area.

My kids thoroughly enjoyed the various bouncy castles. They didn't get a chance to try out the jousting but it looked like fun. Two players wearing protective head gear and each stand on separate platforms. Using a suspended inflatable boulder, each opponent tries to knock the other one off.

What would March Break be without a little fun and games? Of course, we all secretly hope for warmer temperatures so that we can all get outside for a family stroll and outdoor play. But it's never a bad idea to be prepared with some back-up activities that can be enjoyed inside the home when the weather refuses to co-operate. Today I bring you some ideas for March Break Fun with Hasbro.

Whenever the holidays roll around, I get excited at the thought of having a game night. March Break is no exception. We have an ever-growing collection of games in our home that are occupying a tonne of storage space, that now we are trying out some iPad app versions of Hasbro classics such as the Game of Life. The kids also love playing Connect Four Launchers and Simon Flash. My daughter is really getting into Battleship Live and loves how interactive it is. One game we haven't pulled out in a while is the innovative puzzle Ji Ga Zo. I think it's time we tried an updated portrait. Although this one of my son is still super cute, wouldn't you say?

For the older set, there's always Trivia Pursuit. Trivia has never been my forté but we are always guaranteed a good laugh. Just like when we play Cranium!

And then there's Play-Doh. What kid doesn't love Play-Doh? With all the bright colours and play sets to choose from, there is surely lots of creative play to be had. The new Play-Doh Sweet Shoppe Frosting Fun Bakery set looks like a lot of fun. For the kids. The subsequent mess it could leave behind for mommy to clean up? Not so much. This is why I tend to join in the Play-Doh fun with my kids to keep the mess in check. A couple of years ago, we made some Easter-themed Play-Doh magnets.

My son, who is an incredibly huge fan of all things cars, still loves playing with his favourite Play-Doh set - the Cars 2 Mold 'N Go Speedway. Ka-chow!

For Christmas, my brother and sister-in-law bought the kids their first BeyBlade set and they loved it! They have taken them apart and built new ones, and put them back together again. They love letting it rip and battling it out in their half pike. The BeyBlades have actually replaced the FurReal Dizzy Dancers, whose main appeal was the pretty "girly" colours. I'd say save your money and invest in BeyBlades. In our home, they've proven to be much more fun and have seen more hours of play than the Dizzy Dancers.

Ever since I was a child, I had always wanted to try out the Easy Bake Oven. I really like the look of the newer model, which I first encountered at the Hasbro preview event back in 2011. I also like that it no longer needs light bulbs. As a bonus, it happens to come in one of my daughter's favourite colours. Now that my daughter is nearly eight, I thought it was a good time for me us to bake some mini treats using our new Easy Bake Oven. My son was even to eager to help out. First up, uber mini chocolate chip cookies! They were super easy to make and bake but I personally did not like the flavour of the dough.

Now that I am 35 years old, I no longer reap the rewards graciously granted to me in my youth. Many moons ago, my waistline would easily forgive me whenever I had devoured a chocolate bar in one breath. My pre-pregnancy cardiovascular state was never an issue. And grey hairs and wrinkles were never a concern. Today, I am out of shape. I desperately need to update my wardrobe with clothes that actually fit. And I'm tempted now more than ever to yank out those less-than-subtle silver hairs that keep begging for attention. But wrinkles? Do I really have... wrinkles?

Among those factors that affect your skin the older you get are: hydration, wrinkles, firmness, density, radiance, regeneration, dark circles and under eye bag. Until recently, my main concern has always been hydration and finding the right moisturizer. I have always had dark circles under my eyes, so that is something I became accustomed to very early on. But not wrinkles. I cannot possibly be battling wrinkles at the not-so-ripe age of 35. Or maybe I am. It is a well-known fact that wrinkles can be caused by age as well as ultra-violet light during sun exposure. I have also read that poor nutrition and lack of sleep can be contributing factors. (Is there a flashing neon sign pointing in my direction?) This is why I agreed to test the new Anti-Age Global line by Yves Rocher.

Launched in February of this year, the Anti-Age Global line "boasts a World 1st in Botanical Beauty: the 4th generation of Plant Source Cells extracted from Echinacea." In the Botanical Garden in La Gacily, Botanical Beauty researchers set out on a quest to produce Plant Source Cells of
remarkable quality and effectiveness. This led them
to Echinacea Augustfolia.

Canadians, if you love Lifetime TV Canada, and you love Twitter Parties, this one's for you.

This Sunday, March 10th at 10:00pm ET, join us for #TheClientList Twitter Party. We'll be live tweeting during the premiere of the widely anticipated second season - and if you're a fan of the show, or would love to see what all the hype's about - we would love for you to join us.

About the Show:

"The sweet yet seductive Riley Parks is back with a new season and new secrets in The Client List, starring and executive produced by Golden Globe-nominee Jennifer Love Hewitt. Following last season’s cliffhanger finale, more drama and new threats await Riley Parks (Jennifer Love Hewitt) in the equally steamy second season of The Client List. After being deserted by her husband and left alone in financial despair, the Texas single mother of two accepts a larger role at The Rub, the seemingly traditional spa that offers clients on the list special “extras,” adding further obstacles to her already difficult double life. But it’s the sudden return of her estranged husband Kyle (Brian Hallisay) that proves to be especially challenging for Riley as her feelings for brother-in-law Evan (Colin Egglesfield) finally come to a boil. Caught with her back against the wall, trust becomes an overwhelming issue for Riley as everyone, including those closest to her, seem to be hiding something."

Although the show centers around Riley, we tend to wait for Evan to appear -

If you're not a regular viewer of the show, don't fear! Here's your chance to get caught up - you can watch The Client List Season One Marathon beginning at 12:00pm ET on Lifetime TV Canada. A whole day of drama, intrigue, ethical debates, sexual tension and um, Colin Egglesfield? Yes please!

Then, join us and @LifetimeTVCA for a fun Twitter Party! ALL Canadians are welcome to tweet with us - just be sure to follow @LifetimeTVCA and RSVP below to be eligible for prizes.

(Click here to view the Lifetime TV Canada channel guide to find a service provider in your area.)

Have you ever seen an extremely large facility jam packed with trampolines, all connected to form one
massive trampoline surface? I'm talking angled trampolines that allow you to literally bounce off the walls! Only the second of its kind in Canada, Sky Zone Toronto is now open and offers fun and fitness for the whole family like you've never seen before.

Last Saturday, my family and I were invited as guests of Sky Zone to check out what they had to offer. Little did I know how much fun it could be. Before you begin, you must have a signed liability waiver. You will then be given a pair of Sky Zone shoes which are designed to avoid any slipping while on the trampolines. Be sure to bring your own socks.

When you first enter, you will see three enclosed 3-D Dodgeball courts.

Looking back on the many moments of joy I have experienced as a mother over the past eight years, I cannot help but smile when I think of all those special milestones I was so blessed to have been able to witness. One such milestone that left me feeling OVERjoyed was the day my daughter took her very first steps. She was only ten months old and had only just begun to crawl. In fact, she waited until the day after my first Mother's Day to crawl for the very first time. So you can imagine my surprise when she decided to take her first steps later that same day! The look of excitement and sheer pride on her face brought a tear to my eye.

Becoming a first-time mom can change your life OVERnight and often leaves you feeling OVERwhelmed, especially in those final days of pregnancy when you'reOVERanxious because you're OVERdue and just plain OVERtired. At the end of the day, after changing what feels like the millionth diaper, you realize how it was simply worth it to be able to experience those precious moments with that special little someone.

About me

Diana is a mother of two children and works as an elementary French teacher in Toronto, Ontario. Launched in 2006, her blog Toronto Teacher Mom features articles on her family's adventures as well as reviews on the latest and greatest. When she isn't busy blogging, cleaning or playing with the kids, you can find her standing on her head, riding a bike or sharing crafts on dianasdesigns.ca.